Nano-indentation was simulated by the movement of discrete dislocations. It was shown that the nominal hardness of the material in the model was influenced mainly by the critical shear stress required to activate the dislocation sources, whereas the degree of decrease in the hardness at small indentation depths was dependent upon the lattice friction stress for dislocation movement. In this plastic analysis, the influence of a cylindrical indenter and of a wedge-shaped indenter with a rounded tip was also studied.

Discrete Dislocation Simulation of Nano-Indentation - the Effect of Moving Conditions and Indenter Shape. H.G.M.Kreuzer, R.Pippan: Materials Science and Engineering A, 2004, 387-389, 254-6